Brake mechanism for horse-powers



(No Model.)

J. L. BYERS. Brake Mechanism for Horse Powers.

No. 243,207. Patented June 21,188l.

m S E N n W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. BYERS, OF FORRESTON, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR HORSE-POWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,207, dated June 21, 1881.

Application filed April 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. BYERS, of Forreston, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake Mechanism for Horse- Powers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of .this specification, and in which Figure l is a plan view of the under side of the frame of a horse-power, the driving-wheel and gears being omitted, as they form no part of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection through line as w in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the peculiarly constructed stirrup for operatingthebrake blocks or shoes.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to horse-powers; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts of an improved brake mechanism for regulating the speed of the power, and, when desired bringing it gradually to a standstill, without jarring the machinery by a too sudden stoppage.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the side sills of the frame, which are connected, as usual, by cross-beams B, andsupported upon wheels 0, which may be detachable or otherwise.

D is the drive-shaft or line-shaft, which receives motion from a bevel-pinion at its inner end, meshing with the horizontal drive-wheel. (Not shown.)

Upon shaft D is affixed a solid drum, E, which is disposed between the brake-shoes F G, the lower one of which, F, is secured at the outer end of a spring, H, which is fastened in one of the side sills, A, while the upper shoe, G, is secured at the outer end of an arm, I, which is hinged in the opposite side sill, A, in such a manner as to have a free np-anddown motion. The shoes F and G are placed about midway in the frame, vertically above one another, and on opposite sides of the drum or {brake-pulley E of the line-shaft, and are recessed to conform to the shape of the drum, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lowermost block, F, is inserted between the arms k of a stirrup, K, and secured thereto by a bolt, Z, passing through the body of the shoe. from side to side. Arms it are cut away or recessed at m, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to make room for the line-shaft, which is in a line with bolt Z. In other words, the bolt 6 lies in the same vertical plane as the center line of the drum or brake-pulley E, or nearly so, the drum 1) being flanked on opposite sides by the recessed arms k k of stirrup K. Through the head or top part of this Stll rup works a vertical screw, L, which plays with its lower end in a recess in the top of the upper brake-shoe, G, in such a manner that by operating the screw shoe G may be raised or lowered in respect ofstirrnp K, between the arms of which it is inserted. The upper plain part of screw L passes through a sleeve, M, up through the platform N, where the driver stands, and has a lever, O, hinged at its upper end, by means of which it maybe turned to either side, according to whether it is desired to apply or to release the brake. The bearing-point of screw L upon the upper brakeshoe is in the same vertical plane as the center line of drum E and bolt l of the lower shoe, and it follows that when the screw is operated to set the brake the pressure on the drum will be applied in a line with its axis, and will be exactly even on both sides.

If desired, a spring-rod may be substituted for the upper hinged arm, I, the tension of the rod being to lift the upper shoe, G, off of the drum, in like manner as the lower spring-arm, H, operates to hold the lower shoe clear of the brake-drum.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States The described brake mechanism for horsepowers, consisting of the twin shoes F and G, attached to the outer ends of the yielding arms H and I, stirrup K, recessed at m, and provided with the bolt 1 at its lower end, and vertical screw L, having hinged lever O, in combination with the line-shaft D, having the brake-drum E, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. BYERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. BYERs, SAMUEL E. BROWN.

IOC 

